[T20 World Cup] Delhi High Court grants relief to Star India, orders blocking of 8 rogue websites illegally streaming matches

The Delhi High Court recently restrained eight ‘rogue websites’ from hosting, streaming, broadcasting or rebroadcasting any cricketing event related to the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup after Star India filed a suit for copyright infringement [Star India Private Ltd and Anr v T1.MyLiveCricket.Club and Ors]..Star owns the media rights for the upcoming World Cup which is scheduled to start from October 16, Sunday..Justice Navin Chawla ordered the Domain Name Registrars (DNRs), Department of Technology (DoT), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to block the rogue websites.“The said blocking orders shall be issued by the DoT within 24 hours after service of this order. Pursuant to the said blocking order(s), all the ISPs, that is, the Defendant Nos. 13 – 21, shall block access to the URLs, as also the mobile applications within 24 hours and shall not permit the download of these applications or the streaming of the rogue websites,” the Court ordered..Star had approached the court arguing that it owns and operates Television Channels and Over-the-Top (OTT) platform Disney+Hotstar which has exclusive media rights for the World Cup.It argued that there is an apprehension that a bunch of rogue websites are likely to illegally stream and telecast the matches.This reasonable and legitimate apprehension emanates from the fact that these Websites are already streaming the matches of Australia and South Africa’s tour of India in the year 2022, the court was told..Justice Chawla held that Star has made out a prima facie case for grant of ex-parte ad-interim injunction.“Considering the investment which the Plaintiffs have made in acquiring the rights of these events, any illegal broadcasting would severely affect the monetary interest of the Plaintiffs, and also diminish the value of the rights of such sporting events,” the Court said..It passed the order for interim injunction and also directed the DNRs to provide information about these infringing websites to Star.The Court also allowed Star to file an affidavit if it comes across more such websites and they will be blocked with immediate effect..“Upon the DoT receiving the notices and communications from the Plaintiffs that the affidavits have been filed before the Court, the orders for blocking such further rogue websites shall be passed, immediately and in any case, within 24 hours, so that the websites do not continue to stream infringing content in any manner whatsoever," the Court stated. .Advocates Sidharth Chopra, Yatinder Garg, Snehima Jauhari and Ambika Dilwali appeared for Star.None appeared for the defendants..[Read Order]